Gas generating apparatus



June 26, 1934. J. H. CORDES GAS GENERATING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 12, 1930 Patented June 26, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in gas generating apparatus, and an object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for use in the generation of gas from liquid fuel comprising a generator into which the liquid fuel is delivered, and from which the gas is Withdrawn by suction and is conducted through a passage leading to a gas storage tank, said passage being equipped with an appropriate seal and check device to prevent return or back pressure of the gas into the carburetor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a gas generating apparatus comprising a carburetor and a gas storage tank, in combination with suction means for withdrawing the gas from the carburetor and forcing the gas toward and into the storage tank, and a device forming a seal or check, preventing return of the gas from the gas storage tank to said device or to said carburetor.

Various other objects will appear from the following description, reference being made to the drawing, showing the invention in elevation, certain of the elements being in section.

The carburetor for producing the gas from liquid fuel comprises a tank 1 having therein a vertical series of reticulated baffles 2, each of which has one circumferential portion thereof spaced from the wall of the tank to leave an opening 3. These bafes are arranged so that the several openings 3 are out of vertical alinement, thus forming a circuitous passage so that the air entering the tank at the bottom is required to pass laterally between the several bailies and into contact with the upper and lower surfaces of said baffles so as to produce a gas from the liquid fuel in and on said baffles. Air is admitted into the lower end of the tank through a check valve device 4 of known construction operating to permit the air to enter the tank when the gas is withdrawn from the tank by suction and preventing escape or outward passage of air and gas from the tank through said valve 4. A drain pipe 5 opens from the lower end of the tank and is of larger size and capacity than the liquid fuel pipe leading into the tank.

A liquid fuel pipe 6 leads from a fuel storage tank (not shown) or other source of supply, to a pump device '7 operatively connected with a shaft 8 driven by an electric motor 9. The fuel pump 'l may be of any appropriate known type, the details of which are not related to this invention, it being suicient to understand that liquid fuel is drawn to the pump 7 through the pipe 6 and is discharged from the pump 7 through a pipe 10 having an extension 11 opening to discharge the liquid fuel onto a spreader 12 within the carburetor tank 1 above the uppermost baille 2. This pipe 10 is equipped with a control valve 13 to regulate and control the amount of oil discharged through said pipe into the carburetor.

A well known gas pump 14 is also attached to and driven by the motor shaft 8 and operates on the suction principle to withdraw gas from the carburetor tank 1. For this purpose, a pipe 15 has its upper end opening into the upper end of the tank 1 above a screen 16. The screen 16 is above the liquid spreader 12 and functions to strain the gas before the gas can enter the open end of the suction pipe 15. The suction pipe 15 opens into one side of the pump 14 and is controlled by a check valve 17, permitting the pump to function as a suction device to withdraw the gas from the upper end of the tank 1 and preventing return of the gas from the pump to said tank 1.

An outlet pipe 18 opens from the discharge side of the pump 14 and has its opposite end connected with a seal or check device 19, which permits the continued passage of gas from the pump to the gas storage tank and prevents return of gas from the gas storage tank to the pump. This seal or check device 19 may be of any desired construction, that shown comprising a quantity of mercury 20 or other appropriate liquid enclosed in the part 19 and immersing the lower end of the pipe 18 which projects downwardly into the liquid.

From the upper end of the device v19 a pipe 21 conducts the gas into the upper portion of the gas storage tank 22. A service pipe 23 leads from the upper portion of the storage tank 22 and is equipped with a standard and well known house service regulator valve 24.

The pipe 21 has communication with a pressure gage 25 through a branch pipe 26 having a pipe 27 acting on a safety cut-out switch 28 which is conventionally shown and which may be of any appropriate type, such as that disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No. 339,071, filed February 11, 1929. A branch 29 from the pipe 26 also opens into a pressure control switch device 30 having the form of a mercury pressure switch of the type disclosed in my said co-pending application.

The motor 9 is controlled by these switches. The circuit wire 31 has a connection 32 with one side of the safety cut-out switch 28. A wire 33 from the opposite side of the safety switch 28 leads to the pressure control switch 30, and a wire 34 leads from said switch 30 to the motor 9.

The other circuit wire 35 leads to connection with a line wire 36.

When the apparatus is in use, gas passes from the gas storage tank 22 to the points or places of service through the pipe 23. As the gas is withdrawn from the tank 22, the pressure becomes reduced, permitting the pressure control switch 30 to close the circuit from the wire 33 to the wire 34, and Causing the motor 9 to operate. The pump device 'l is operated by the motor 9, discharging liquid fuel into the carburetor tank 1. The gas is withdrawn from the tank l through the suction pipe 15, because the gas pump 14 is operated at the same time as the pump 7. The gas is forced from the opposite side of the pump 14 through the pipe 18 and through the seal device 19-20, and thence through the pipe 21 into the storage tank 22. When the gas pressure in the tank 22 and in the pipe 21 reaches the desired maximum, the switch 30 is operated by the gas pressure to open the circuit and thus cause the motor 9 to stop.

The safety cut-out switch 28 is operated only in case of current failure or other emergency, so as to prevent operation of the motor 9 until said switch 28 is again closed manually.

The construction and operation of my improved gas generating apparatus are now apparent without description and detail. The specifio types of switches and pumps, etc., are quite immaterial, since these devices are well known, and it is clear enough that they will operate as and in the manner described when properly assembled in the disclosed organization.

The construction and arrangement of the parts may be varied within equivalent limits without departure from the nature and principle of the invention. I do not restrict myself in unessential respects, but what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent ist- 1. In a gas generating apparatus, the combination of a carburetor, means for admitting air into the lower end of said carburetor, elements in said carburetor' forming a circuitous passage from the lower' end toward the upper end of the carburetor, an electric motor, mechanism operated by said motor for forcing liquid fuel into said carburetor above said elements, a pipe opening from the upper end of said carburetor above said elements for conducting gas from said oarburetor, and a device operated by said motor 'for withdrawing gas from said carburetor through said pipe.

2. In a gas generating apparatus, the combination of a carburetor', a vertical series of reticulated baies in said carburetor each having one edge spaced from the wall of the carburetor and forming a circuitous passage from the lower end t0 the upper end of the carburetor, means for admitting air into the lower end of the carburetor below said baffles, means lfor distributing oil within the carburetor above said bafes, and a suction device opening into said carburetor' above said battles for withdrawing gas from said carburetor.

JOHN H. CORDES. 

